Evidently, something is wrong in the way they think. The numbers tell it all. And if you take into consideration the large number of recent immigrants, the Haredim, & the Arabs who contribute not much to the economy, we've done a lot in 60 years. And we did it all while fighting a war every now & then.

B"H If you are going to extol the praises of Israel based on GDP, what is the GDP for the United States listed there? If you want to present the claim, "And the figures, as we know, don't lie", present the figures! I find "The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $42,000." Source: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html I quote you as saying, "The per capita GNP is even more incredible: In Israel it totaled USD 20,870 this year, a nice rise from last year's USD 18,540. " So if your point is one on cooperation of economies, what does that say about the level of cooperation from Israel versus the United States? I see it as saying is that Israel still has a long way to go to grow and expand on this metric.

The Haredi Israelis are gradually becoming intregrated into Israeli society and joining the work force and the army in ever increasing numbers. Also more Israeli Arabs are joining the work force.

Israel is in a completely different part of the world, with different resources - including manpower. The United States has a population of 300 million, Israel has a population of 6 million. Israel's economy is limited because of its small size and lack of resources. Israel and the US are not comparable, while Israel and its Arab neighbors are.

is that for the sake of taking out 1 Jewish eye they would rather remain blind. They had an ample opportunity to use the Jewish genius and move forward along with Israel but their complexes and wounded pride do not allow them to admit their failure and therefore they continue to be mired in hate, poverty, violence and blaming the Jews.

you can't compare israel and the US. not only for what #5 said but also because israel hasn't been around that long. remember that inthe 50's they still had a significant amount of hunger in israel. to come from nothing to half the per capita GDP of the US is such a short time is a very big deal indeed. unless israel gets vaporized by iran it probably will match that of the US in a generation (Israel's GDP growth rate 2% greater than that of the US would yield a doubling in 35 years)

You IDIOT, are you comparing the US with Israel?? Remember apples and pears

The funny thing is that Israel shouldn't be comparable to its neighbors with its population size and lack of resources, but it is. The fact that Israel is so exceptionally advanced and prosperous makes Steve's comment even that much more irrelevant.

Israel is a country that is propped up by the US. Without US aide, the GNP would not be $150 billion, and that shekal would be more like 12 to 1 to the dollar. And even with all the aide that Israel is getting, the country still does not look that great. I don't know if you've noticed, but the United Arab Emirates has a higher per capita income than Israel ($45,000). So we shouldn't bragg too much.

after kicking iran's butt, don't forget to take their oil. it'll raise the GDP to that of the US.

to read this article ,, but read the letter from the adress ... while there is arab and israil ,, so the fault is in the policy .. or the problem is policy // another note which is not related to policy or ecconomic .. that some one said why i used to sign my country is jerusalem which is a jew country and iam not a jew ,,, first iam from jerusalem ,second i do not lie .. third . i am not consedering it a jew city .. it is the truth .. not related to policy // but i think evry thing here is belonging to policy even the religion not only the ecconomy

#2 Most countries can give some factor which drags down the numbers and most of them are way more radical than in the case of Israel, like the 5 million muslims in France who don't work, USA which accepts huge amounts of immigrants who come without a single dollar in their pocket, Germany with 10 million immigrants plus the merging with the impoverished east (which is on the same scale as if the US would absorb the ENTIRE country of Mexico over a night). #3 Well, what a shock that the american CIA is praising their own economy. Sure, Israel is still behind the US and western Europe, they're quickly catching up though. www.x.se/75jq Israel still ranks pretty good out of 182 countries listed and they have every reason to be proud. #10 Most of the so called aide from the US aren't donations, they're loans. Which is probably the reason to why Israel is one of the most indebted countries in the world.

I would go a step further. The haredim are a great untapped resource for Israel. As they enter the workplace in greater numbers, I would expect them to be very successful. As one of the posts said, if we don't get vapourized by the Iranians, our economy should catch up to European levels very soon. A major reform in our educational system is the key.

You didnt mention that alll the American aide Israel gets has to be spent onAmerican goods and services, which in affect would not change the GNP here. The arab emirates has oil, we dont. so their income per capita is innacurate. Israel ecomony does look great but i do agree we shouldnt brag too much. Tell that to Olmert !

Maybe you are right regarding the 45000 $ per capita income , but you forget they have a hughe income from oil . Israel has NO natural ressources , only the Jewish brains .

The USA has such an interest in Israel's cooperation and Jewish brains , that they buy Israeli start ups , need to open R & D centers in Israel . Why do you think that even the E.U. has signed technical and scientific cooperation accords with Israel ? And another thing , where would be the USA sciences and industry without the contribution of the thousand of Jews who fled nazi Europe ? They were the only fleeing Jews in this period who were warmly welcomed .

Check your numbers, Richard. Israel gets about $3 billion in aid. In a gdp of $150 billion, that doesn't amount to a propup, but rather a kickback. Take away that $3b and our economy will still be robust and will continue to grow. Actually, there are a lot of us who want to see that aid go away - we really don't need it anymore. However, a healthy chunk of it is actually military purchases, so it's in effect local aid to regions in the USA where defence contractors sell weapons, supplies and spare parts to Israel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita Israel's per capita GNP is higher than that of South Korea, same as (European) New Zealand, and is only $3-4000 behind that of major western European countries. Not bad for a nation that spent 10-20% of its GNP on defense the last 50 years!

I forgot to mention : Israel has received and integrated millions of people , refugees of Europe , one million from arab countrys . All of them , or most , came without one cent . We were nowhere in 48 , now one of the major Hi Tec powers .

Comparing Israel to the economic superpower of the world is like comparing apples and oranges. You are comparing a country of 6-7 Million to a country of 300 Million, of one that is 60 years old to one over 200 years old, one with almost natural resources and constant threat of war on its borders to one that has a wealth of natural resources and no threat of war on its borders. I could go on and on but I don't think the point of the article was to say Israel is the best in the world but rather that there is massive gap between Israel and her neigbours.

Few myths are as well-spread as the American "aid" to Israel. In Israel's darkest hour when Israel was fighting for its survival in 1948, the Americans didn't care and were busy courting the Arab dicators. The fact is that the Israeli Shekel has never been stronger in relation to the US dollar than today. Most of the American "aid" to Israel have been loan-guarantees and loans, meaning that Israel and not American tax payers had to pay for every cent. The US assistance which once was important for Israel, today constitutes less than 1% of Israel's GDP and will soon become irrelevant. Few speak about the American aid to Japan and Europe after world war 2 which was both in total terms and in per capita terms significantly higher than the mythological aid to Israel. The American "aid" to Israel has been a very profitable investment for the US and the US has received significant technlogical know how and intelligence from Israel. The former US under-secretary of state told the Israeli politician Shmuel Katz already in 1989: "I can assure you Mr Katz, that if we would not receive in return full value for our money, Israel would not receive even one cent from us". I don't know who Richard means when he says "we" (perhaps US Jews) but most of us Israelis are very proud of Israel and look forward to improve and exceel until we reach the top of the economic summit.

The American "aid" is rather a very profitable investment for the Americans who have received over the years advanced Israeli technology and intelligence. The former US under-secretary of state told the Israeli politician Shmuel Katz already in 1989: "I can assure you Mr Katz, that if we would not receive in return full value for our money, Israel would not receive even one cent from us". It is estimated that the information that Israel provided the US with from the captured MIG21 plane was worth 2 USD billion in research and development costs. Israel is today together with Silicon valley the leading high-tech centre of innovation in the world. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Donald Trump and many others have already realized Israel's enormous potential.

Its not like the arabs need Israel to build a major economic zone in the Middle East. This article tends to get the impressions that Israel wants peace and therefore benefits. It fails to include that Americans military aid helps keep Israel from spending much of its GDP on defense.

Palestine is a Banana Republic still trap with stone age mentality

you are the butter age mentality ..... hahaha

and israil want to cut the peace and benefits from the arabs .. with the help of usa

Why are they not doing this , even without Israel ? They have a lot of money , many inhabitants , all the possibilitys . But nothing ! They even not want the "refugees" , Israel integrated around a million of refugees of muslim countries . And look where Israel is ! One of the biggest centers of Hi Tec , research centers in all domain of science . Regarding spending for arms , we receive loans , and not our fault we have to throw away so much money on this . It's the surrounding's countries fault . GDP numbers give the correct situation of a country . There are also other standards , illiterate people , electricity consumption , numbers of books issued , bought , and so on . When applying those standards , Israel will again be much in front of our neighboors .

If Israel can give, they can also take back Gaza.

Hey fella better read a book now and then. Israel is one off the few nations that PAYS her loans to the US. Ever read Golda Miers book? Wake up Charlie, You're indocrinated by the "Arab Media" the same ones that love Jimmy Carters peanut view of Israel. ( never mind that he's a lying anti semite who also shows signs of Alheimers and was a failed Prez just like Bush) Or, perhaps You're a fan of James Baker, the old hated maker? His remarks on the Jews sounds like You!!! Grow up and read and become more educated. Your ignorance is embarassing to most of us who know better. Hate Jews? Become a politician. Then, 'double speak' will be your job. Foolish thinking You harbor, -America owes more to Israel in real defense knowledge and capabitiy than Bushs war against Iraq. Copish?